President's Letter
Angela Marshall Hofmann
President

With the September birth of our daughter, Karolina, (the littlest WIIT member in town), I would like to thank every one who made the Fall of 2005 possible. Your patience, support, professionalism, and friendship, during these past busy months make me proud to be a part of such a wonderful organization. Read more . . .

Developing Economies: Progress and Challenges
Under Sud, Visiting Professor of George Washington University
Five in six people in the world live in some 153 developing countries, defined as countries with per capita incomes below $10,000 per annum. As a group, the developing countries range from a country as poor as Niger ($170 per capita income) and as rich as Lithuania ($9,880). However, most people in developing countries live in low and low-middle income developing countries with per capita incomes below $825 and $3,250 respectively. The average per capita income in these two groups of developing countries, respectively at $450 and $1,400, is a mere fraction of the average income of over $26,000 in the industrialized countries. Moreover, the gap in the income between the rich and poor countries has continued to grow in the last several decades. Read more . . .

WIIT Programs Update
Eugenia Iankova Ross
Vice President of Programs
We are now past the half-way point of the current WIIT-year and continue to hold interesting and well-attended events. The quality and value of our programs in terms of both substantive information and networking opportunities continues to increase, and most of our events are well-attended. Read more . . .

The WIIT Charitable Trust
Monique Roske, Chair
The WIIT Holiday Gala and WIIT Silent Auction were a resounding success! Despite heavy snowfall and winter storm warnings, the WIIT Holiday Gala at the Swiss Embassy was very well attended. A good time was had by all! Read more . . .

OWIT Report
Andrea Ewart, OWIT Representative
The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) is in the process of making some important reforms that will greatly improve the benefits of membership by WIIT, its Washington, DC chapter and by the chapter's individual members. Chief among these changes is the introduction of a new interactive website that will provide resources for members, and opportunities to interact with other chapters and to highlight members' professional skills and expertise. Read more . . .

 

WIIT Programs Highlighted:

• Prospects for Hong Kong: What is USTR Doing to Prepare for the Upcoming WTO Ministerial?
• The View from the Other Side: European Perspectives on the Doha Round Negotiations
• Implementation of the STOP! Initiative
• U.S. Implementation of WTO Cotton Case
• Customs Port Tour, Port of Baltimore, Maryland